Saturday, August 20, 2011

Here is post #2 about my current collection. Only a week later, not too bad!

The next two binders in my collection are my All-Time Team binders. I researched each Major League franchise. I chose the 27 best players for each team. I chose a starting nine, then 18 extra players. I didn't try to put together a complete bench but I usually chose 2 relief pitchers to fill out the roster. I only used stats for that team. (For example, Reggie Jackson had a great career and shows up for several teams, but not the Orioles. Same for Randy Johnson, he's no all-time Yankee) In most cases, my best card of a player goes here, unless they are a hall of famer. Also, I am a stickler for players wearing the uniform for the team they are representing.

Once again, sweet, tiny baseball labels for these two.

I thought I would highlight the opposite ends of the All-Time team spectrum: The Yankees and the Diamondbacks. Yankees first:

Joe Dimaggio (probably the best non-starter on any team)
Joe Gordon
Reggie Jackson
Bill Dickey
Don Mattingly (he was very good for a short time)
Thurmon Munson
Earle Combs
Bernie Williams (he was very good for a long time)
Jorge Posada (he is not good anymore)

No Dave Winfield? He didn't make the cut. It's no wonder the Yanks have won all those titles.

Matt Williams (past his time but still better than most D-Backs)
Orlando Hudson (O-DOG!)
Eric Byrnes
Chris Young
Chris Snyder
Kelly Johnson
Erubiel Durazo
Craig Counsell
JUNIOR "MIA" SPIVEY (I either need a Junior Spivey in a Arizona Uni OR I need a current D-Back to man up and be better than Junior Spivey!!!!)

There you have it. I update these binders every 2 years or so. The expansion teams have the most changes, as their history is the shortest. At some point, I will share all the teams and ask for your feedback. Would you make any changes to these two teams?

I have an all-time teams want list here. It also includes players who have won a Cy Young or MVP and are not on an all-time team.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Here is the beginning of a few posts about my collection today, partly so that others can see what and how I collect and partly to see it for myself in some organized way:

One thing that I have discovered recently is that I love baseball cards only because I love baseball. So the majority of my collection should probably celebrate the game and the dudes who play it rather than the cardboard itself (just typing this makes me want to downsize more.)

Nothing says Baseball like the Hall of Fame and it's enshrined members. Here is my One of Every Hall of Famer binder:

That tiny sticker with HOF written on it sure does make this most special binder stand out, doesn't it. I have organized it by induction year and then alphabetically within each year. Here is page 1, which includes the Hall's first class of the Georgia Peach, Big Train, Big Six, Sultan of Swat, and Flying Dutchman. A nice class with some great nicknames:

I usually put my best or favorite card of each player in this binder since the Hall of Fame only takes the best. I would rather have a card from each member's playing days, but that just isn't possible for many of these early inductees. Page 1 does include my T206 Christy Mathewson card as well a 2009 Topps Turkey Red Insert of Babe Ruth.

Here is a newer page, honoring the 2003-2005 inductees:

Boggs and Sandberg highlight the page. That powder blue pin-stripped uni on Sandberg is SWEET. And not 1, but 2 Hostess cards make the Hall of Fame cut. I do have 1976 Topps cards of Eck and Kid, but they live in the 1976 Topps binder. As you can see, my Eddie Murray and Paul Molitor card selection is not the best, although I do love the 2008 Goudey set!

I am currently missing 42 of the 295 Hall of Famers. Therefore this collection is 86% complete! I am missing some random early players, some Negro League greats, and many executives and umpires.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

So now that my blog has withered in the blazing heat, along with my grass, I thought I would throw a post out there and see if it sticks. Here is a short history of me as a baseball card collector:

1984

I was given a big box of cards from a family friend. Mostly 1973 and 1974 Topps. My brother and I shared the cards. We sorted cards by team. Each team had two stacks, players whom we had heard of and those we had not. Rubber bands aplenty!

1885

We diligently collected the 1985 Donruss set, mostly through rack packs. I remember buying a whole pack because Bill Madlock was on the outside and was needed for the set. Also remember getting Razor Shines from a card shop to complete the set (Sad story - I sent the Shines card ttm a few years ago to the Mets spring training facility. Gone forever. It was my first and last ttm request.)

1986

Collection split with my brother. Began my years as a hoarder of cards. I wanted every card ever produced. I bought every base set, update set, drug store Fleer set, blister packed classic set, etc that I could find.

1991

Fleer Ultra and OPC Premiere arrived, ending my 6 year struggle for EVERYTHING that pictured a baseball player on it.

1992-1994

I bought a set or two, a pack here, a pack there.

1995-1998

The dark years or maybe the light years, depending on your perspective. I didn't think too much about cards, as I finished high school and started college.

1999

My brother reentered the baseball card world, buying up cheap sets and Jeff Bagwell singles. I set out to collect my birth year set, 1976 Topps.

2000 - 2004

Other than my 1976 Topps set, very little hobby activity.

2005

The pack ripping bug bites, retail style. I would buy a few packs a week at the local target. The thrill of the unopened pack was exciting again. I discovered shiny inserts, gamed-used bits, SP's, and parallels.

2006 - 2007

As my collection grew, a few packs at a time, I felt the need to organize. Most of my cards were in their respective set boxes and the others were in binders, toploaders, or boxes, in alpabetical order by last name, of course. The collection was overwhelming. I took up an entire bookshelf. There were probably 90,000 - 100,000 cards and I rarely looked at them. Something had to be done.

early 2007

The year I threw away baseball cards. I have admitted it more than once on this blog. I knew that I did not want every common card from the over-produced era of my childhood and I was sure, at the time, that no one else did either. I threw away roughly 20,000 cards.

mid 2007

I discovered A Pack a Day, and then discovered Cardboard Junkie, Thorzul Will Rule, White Sox Cards, and a few others. Maybe there were people who still wanted 1989 Donruss Lloyd Moseby

cards.

January 1, 2008

Stats on the Back was born.

2008

I created custom cards, gave away 30,000 cards, honored (or made fun) 1985 donruss, 1976 Topps, and 1981 Fleer, made lots of trades

2009

I shared my thoughts on the top three at each position.(I don't think I got around to RF. Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente are in the top three off the top of my head), had some contests, ridded my collection of "Lame Hits", and didn't post as much

2010

Lots more reducing of the collection. traded away stacks of stars and excess vintage, even less posting.

Today

I continue to reduce my collection every time I look at it. I am down to less than 10,000 cards, not counting the ones I will be trading/giving away this year. and almost no posting. Mostly I work and take care of my little boy (19 months).

Next Up: My collection now and the next great Trade/Giveaway from Stats-on-the-Back!!